Former nonprofit exec pays $136,000 in restitution

Wednesday

Oct 29, 2008 at 12:44 PMOct 29, 2008 at 12:47 PM

RYAN ORR Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • A local nonprofit organization got back $136,000 in misappropriated funds from two former employees, who received a lesser sentence for their crimes after ponying up the cash, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Mark A. Erickson, 38, of Apple Valley, and his girlfriend Lisa Sepulveda, 39, both pleaded guilty to embezzlement of more than $400 from their former employer, High Desert Child, Adolescent & Family Services Center Inc.

Erickson, who served as executive director of the center, and Sepulveda, who served as an employee, were facing one year in county jail unless they showed up to their sentencing with the $136,000, much of which was money paid by the public for services.

After handing over a check, Erickson and Sepulveda were sentenced Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Ann Marie Pace to 180 days to be served on weekends, as opposed to the full year.

"We wanted to give them an incentive to make full restitution because our concern was making the victims whole and imposing some punishment in justice," said Deputy District Attorney David Foy. "They were pocketing money that the public was paying to the High Desert Center for services and using it for unjustified personal expenses."

Foy said that the couple had utilized a number of scams to take money from the organization, which provides counseling services.

"Mr. Erickson's serious and reckless misconduct in the instant matter in addition to being misguided is reproachable given that certain moneys involved were public funds," according to a probation report presented to the court.

The center has recovered from what the defendants put it through and is excited to continue serving its clients in a professional manner, said current Executive Director Cindi Burklow.

"We are tickled to get the restitution," she said. "We're just really happy that justice was served."